Signal



Feb. 7, 192s.

R. S. HARTER S IGNAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24. 1924 R. S. HARTER Feb. 7, 192s.

SIGNAL Filed Marbh 24. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IWW ' the provision of an auxiliary RAYMOND S. HARTER,

PATENT OFFICE..

or wns'r NANTIcoxE, rnNNsYLvam Application filed Iaroh 24,

This invention has reference to signaling devices and more particularly to a signaling device especially designed for use at street crossings, road crossings, or intersecting highways to warn persons approaching the crossing or intersection of the fact that a vehicle is moving-in the opposite direction or at right angles thereto. A

Another object of the invention is to provide a signaling device which will be automatic in its operation 'and one that will cause a signal to be displayed after the machine operating the danger signal haspassed the crossing.

A still further object of the invention is signaling device which will .be actuated only whenl vehicles moving at right angles to Aeach other, pass predetermined points, simultaneously.,`

With the foregoing and other objects ini view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details nof construction"*hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without de arting fromA the spirit of the invention.

eferring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view disclosing a highway crossing supplied with a signaling clevice constructed in accordance with the invention. e

Figure 2 is a' longitudinal sectional view through one of the switch mechanisms formine a part of the invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken at right an les to Figure 2.

igure 4 is a side elevational view of a signaling tower.

e Figure 5 is a plan view of the threeoint switch mechanism controlling the auxl iarysignaling mechanism.

Figure 6 is afdetail view disclosing the controlling switch and magnets for operating the same.

Figure 7 is a sectional detail view disclosing the connectionbetween conducting members of the switch mechanism.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatical lview disclosin the circuits for controlling the signal. Re errin to' the drawings in detail, the

at the. point of the highway intersections or I 12' ada i924. serial No. 701,458.

struction of the base being hollow and suitably insulated against weather conditions 0 insure the operation of the switch mem- The post section of the tower is indicated at 7` and is hollow providing a housing for the wiring that has connection with the lamps disposed in the lamp casings 8, 9 and 10 of the tower, the lam casings being arranged so that a lamp fzpices in each direc- `tion'of a highway to be visible by persons 'moving over the crossing highways.

The switch mechanism that is in direct circuit With-the lamps includes a pivoted arm 11 and a pair of contact points 12 and pted to be engaged by the arm 11 when it 1s moved vlaterally by the magnets 13 and 14 which are controlled by the main switches to be hereinafter more fully described.,

As shown, the contact member 12; is in circuit with the red lamp in the lamp casing 9 of the tower so that when the member 10 is moved into engagement .with the contact point 12, a circuit will vbe completed to the red lamp, lighting the same, the contact point 12 is in circuit with the green lamp which is in the lamp housing 8 so that when the contact member 11 is moved into engagement with thev contact point 12', the circusit is completed to the lamp in the housing Positioned in the surface of the highway, and disposed in the paths of travel of vehicles passing thereover, are switch members indicated by reference characters 15a, 15b, 15 and 15d respectively, each of which comprises a base l'formed with a central cut out portion 17 designed to house switch members including members 18, 19 and 20. These members are supported on a plate indicated at 21 formed of suitable insulating material and are adapted to move into engagement with contact oints 22, one of which being'in circuit with the magnets of the iirst mentionedA switch.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that v Vcuit to the signaling lamps within the tower.

when the contact arms complete the circuits, the arm 11 will \be moved to complete a cir- V The plate 21 is supported on the plate 23 which may be secured within: the base 16 by means of the screws 24. Formed in the base 16 directly over the cut out portion 17 is an opening 25 that provides a clearance for the arm 27 that connects with the arms 18, 19 and 20 whereupon downward movement of the arm 27 will result in a relative movement of the arms 18, 19 and 20 to complete the circuit, as described.

A movable section 28 forms a part of each switch member that is positioned in the road surface, which movable section is in the form of a plate curved providing a cap for the base and at the same time providing a construction that will cause moisture to drain therefrom and prevent foreign matter from entering the swltch member and render the same inoperative.

In order that the cap 28 will be held in vdirect alignment with the base to insure a true vertical movement thereof, bores 29 are provided in the base, which lbores provide seats for the coiled springs 30 that engage the plungers 31 secured to the under surface of the cap 28, .the springs acting to normally urge the cap 28 to its inactive position.

A depression 32 is also provided in the base 15 which depression provides ay pocket for the reception of a resistance coil 33 which is in circuit with a suitable source of electric supply so that the base 15 may be heated to prevent the formation of ice or snow on the switch mechanism to render it inoperative.

The contact members 18, 19 and 20 are normally urged to their inactive positions by coiled springs 34 disposed thereunder.

The switches 34 are of constructions similar to the switch members 15 except the switch members 35 only operate to move the member 11 to complete a circuit to the green lamp in the tower.

It is to be understood that the switch members 15 are designed for positioning at the right hand sides of the highways atv points adjacent to the crossing or intersection of highways, while the switches 34 are placed on the left hand sides of the highways facing the tower and at points nearer to the edges of the` adjacent road so that as a motor vehicle passes over a switch 34 after' previously passing over one of the -switches 15, it will be obvious that the green lamp in the tower will be operated simultaneously with the passing of the vehicle from the highway over which the vehicle has been moving.

, i As an added precaution to prevent machines moving at right angles to each other 'from `simultaneously entering intersecting h'ghways o shighway crossings, one of the contact me ers of each switch member 15 'nessuna is in circuit with one of the contact members of the adjacent switch member 15 at the right thereof, while another contact member of each switch member 15 is in circuit with a contact member of the adjacent switch member 15 at the left thereof, which switch members as before statedare in circuit with the yellow lamp in the tower, which construction makes lit necessary for two machines to simultaneously pass over switch members 15 in opposite highways in order to complete the circuit to the yeliow lamp, thereby giving warning that machines are entering the crossing or intersecting highways, simultaneously.

The circuits for controlling the lamps within the tower are clearly shown by Figure 8 of the drawings and as shown, the negative wire of the power line is indicated at 36 and has connection with the wire 37 which vin turn is in circuit with the yellow lamp, the return circuit or positive circuit being through wire 38, wire 39, contact member 19 of switch 15a, Wire 40, wire 41 through the contact member 19 of switch 15a disposed in the highway surface at right angles ,to the highway surface in which the first mentioned switch member is positioned, and back through the wire 42 and wire 43.

The contact member 20 ofthe switch member 15b is in circuit with the contact member 20 of the switch member 15 as follows: f

The positive circuit includes wire 43, wire 44, wire 45, wire 46, and contact members .20 of switch 15C, the negative Contact, the c1rcuit being through wires 47, 48, contact member 20 of switch 15b through the vw1re 49, wire 38, yellow lamp, and back through the Wires 37 and 36.

The circuit between contact member 19 of switch member 15 and switch member 15d includes wire 43, wire 44, wire 4 5, wire 46,

through the contact member 19 of switch i the yellow lamp and through wires 37 and 36.

In order that vehicles approaching the tower in opposite directions will be warned when they simultaneously 'pass into the crossing, the yellow lamp is lighted, signaling` to the operators to proceed with caution.

For example should cars be passing over the switch members 15a and 15, the'circuit is completed through wires 43, 44, 45, 46, contact member 19 of the switch member 15, through wire 62, wire 63, wire 41, and

y wire 40 to the Contact member 19 of thekv switch member 15a, and through wires 39 and 38 to yellow lamp and return through wires 37 and 36. l

Should a motor vehicle pass over the switch member 15, the circuit to the lamp controlling switch member 11 is completed through the wire 54, contact member 18, wire 65, wires 55 through the 'wire 67, and through the magnet coils 14, moving the armature 68 to bridge the coils 14, whereupon switch member 11y engages contact pointv 12 and completing the circuit through wire 69, red lamp 70, wire 71, wire 72, wire 73, wire 74, and wire 43.

Should the vehicle which has passed over the switch member 15a turn to the right and pass over the switch' member 34, which now li'es in the path of travel of the vehicle, the circuit to the coils of the magnet to draw the armature 58 to a position to complete the circuit to theA green lamp 76, would be completed through wire 43, wire 74, wire 73, wire 72, wire 77,` contact member 35 of the switch 34 associated therewith, wire 79, wire 80, coils 13 moving the armature to a position as shown by Figure 8 of the drawings, which completes the circuit to" the green lamp -'76 through wire 81, wires 37 and 36. When a motor vehicle passes over cthe switch member 15b, the circuit to the red light is made to the contact member 18 through wire 43, wire 54, wire 83, wire 84, returning through wire 85, wire 86, wires 66 and 67 energizing the coils 14, moving the armature 68 to cause the switch member 11 to complete the circuit to the red lamp as previously described.

When a vehicle passes over the switch member 35 of the adjacent road surface and positioned to the right thereof, the circuitv is made through the wirei43, vwire 74, wire 7 3. wire 87, contact member'l 35 of switch c 34 associated therewith, returning through wire 49, and wire 90, energizing the coils 13 and returning the switch member 11 to a position as shown by Figure 8 to complete the circuit to the green lamp as described.

Should a vehicle pass over the switch member 15, the circuit is made through wires 43, 44, 45 and 91 through the contact member 18, wire 92, wire 93, wire 67 and through the coils 14 and through wire 36 thereby moving the armature 68 to complete the circuit through the red lamp circuit as described.

Should the vehicle pass to the right and depress the switch member 35 disposed at the right thereof, the circuit to the coils 13 will be made through wire 43, wire 74. wire 94. switch member 35. wire 96. wire 63 to coils 13, drawing the armature 68 to a position to complete the circuit to the green lamp indicating that the vehicle has passed to a the green lamp and lighting place of safety within the crossing highway.

Should a car f passing over the switch member 15d operate the switch member, the circuit to the coils 14 will be made through the wires 43, 44, 97, contact member 18, wire 93 and through the-wires 67 through the coils 14, returning through wire 36. Thus it will be seen that the armature 6 8 is moved to a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 completing the circuit to the red lamp as previously described.

The danger signal is now displayed indi'- cating to persons traveling in opposite d1- rections thatpa vehicle is approaching the highway crossing.

As the vehicle passes to the right and moves over the switch member 35 disposed adjacent thereto, the switch member operates to energize the coils 13 by com leting a circuit through the switch mem er 35, wire 100, wire 101, wire 53 to the coil 13, drawing the armature 68 towards the coils 13 and completing the circuit to the green lamp as described, to indicate that the vehicle has passed to a position of safety. The cirpuit now returns through wire 102, wire 103, wire 104, and wire 36.

It will thus be seen that by the installa tion of a system as shown and described, it will be for signals to be automatically displayed at highway crossings, or highwayc intersections, thus. Areducing accidents at highway crossings and highway intersections to the minimum.

I claim 1. A highway crossing signal system including a tower, a normally lighted green lamp, a red lamp and ayellow lamp, said lamps being in the tower and visible from t-he various highways, means operated by a vehicle assing into the intersection for extinguishing the green lamp, and lighting the red lamp, means controlled by a vehicle passing from the intersection for extinguishing the red lamp and lighting the green lamp, and means for extinguishing the yellow lamp by' vehicles passing simultaneously in cross directions into the intersection.

2. A highway crossing signaling system vincluding' a tower, a normally lighted greenl lamp in the tower, a red lamp and a yellow lamp in the tower, said lamps being visible from the various highways, circuits leading to the various lamps, weight actuated switch members in lthe circuits arranged in the highways, to control the circuits to the lamps to cut out the green lamp and light the red lamp when a vehicle passes into the intersection, and means controlled by a vehicle passing from the intersection for cutting out the red lamp and simultaneously re-` lighting the green lamp. f

3. A highway crossing signaling system 1 o including a tower, a normally lighted green lamp within the tower, a red lamp within in the tower and visible from the various the tower, means for extinguishing the highways, and means controlled byV vehicles green lamp and lighting the red lamp when passing mto the intersection simultanea vehicle passes into the intersection, a yelously,. and in cross directions for lighting 5 low lamp, and means for operating said the yellow lamp. l

yellow lamp when two vehicles enter the In testimony that I claim the foregoing intersection simultaneously, Iin cross direcas my own, I have hereto affixed my slgnations. ture.

4. A highway crossinv signaling system l0 including a tower, a yellow warning lamp RAYMOND S. HARTER. 

